Collapsible handle



Patented Aug. 9, 1932 FREDRICK W. COFFING, F DANVILLE, ILLINOISCOLLAPSIBLE HANDLE Application filed. December 21, 1931.

This invention relates toa collapsible handle suitable for augers,socket wrenches and similar tools. y

The chief object of this invention is toprovide a handle structure thatmay be readily collapsed and in which the parts are permanentlyassociated together, and may, if desired, be retained in collapsedposition.

The chief feature of the invention consists in the accomplishing of theforegoing object by the provision of a head with which is telescopicallyassociated a pair of handles, each handle having a multiple telescopingconnection with said head.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from theaccompanying drawing and the following description and claims:

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a portion of a toolshowing the handle applied thereto. Fig. 2 is an enlarged centralsectional view through the head portion of the handle and the handlemembers, showing one of the handle members in the collapsed position andanother handle member in an intermediate position from that shown inFigs. 1 and 2 before mentioned. Fig. 3 is an enlarged transversesectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and in the direction ofthe arrows, and of `a retaining structure for the handle members whencollapsed. Fig. 4 is a central sectional View of a modied form ofstructure and is somewhat similar to that shown in Fig. 2, one of thehandle mem- Y bers, however, being shown in collapsed position and theother being shown in extended or handle-forming position. Fig. 5 is asectional view taken onthe line 5-5 of Fig. 4, and in the direction ofthe arrows.

In the drawing, 10 indicates the shaft of a 4.o tool, such as a groundauger, socket wrench or similar structure. Suitably secured thereto is ahead structure indicated generally by the numeral 11. Said headstructure includes a pair of aligned sockets 12 which herein `are shownkcommunicating with each other The head also includes a pair of sockets13, said sockets being positioned side by side and in spaced relation.Herein said sockets are shown positioned substantially transverse to thealigned sockets 12. Each socket includes Serial No. 582,244.

a slot. The slot 14 for socket 12 communicates with or is a continuationof the slot 15 of socket 13. Each aligned socket and the adjacent sidesocket communicate with each other, but at the communication orjunction, and thereby defining the end of the side socket, is a stoparrangement. This stop arrangement consists of an inwardly directedflange 9, and the ilange does not project beyond or into the slot 14 or15, and a pair of flanges 9 is provided at the head of each side socket.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the shaft 10 is shown seated in an intermediate socket16 and secured in said socket by a bolt rivet or pin 17. The socket 16is herein shown communicating with the aligned sockets 12, but need notnecessarily communicate therewith except in certain selected forms ofthe invention. y V`The pin 19 prevents the handle members fromprojecting past the center or communication between the aligned sockets.

One of the selected forms of the invention is shown in Fig. 4, and inthis figure numerals of like or similar parts are indicated as of the100 series. In this form of the invention, the shaft 110 includes arounded end 120 and the shaft is secured by the pin 119. One purpose ofthis rounded end will appear more fully when reference is had to theform of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Another is for handlestopping.

In Figs. 1 and 2 there is illustrated an elongated coil spring 18 whichis anchored as by a cross pin 22 in the remote end of a tubular handlehaving a tubular passage 23 and wall portion 24. The tubular handlemember 24 may be seated in either the socket 12 or the adjacent socket13 and may be readily moved from one to the other by moving the handlemember axially to clear the socket and then 90 turning the handle untilthe end thereof registers with the other socket and then permitting thehandle to seat in the other socket, such seating being maintained by thespring 18. To permit the spring 18 to move from one 95 socket to theother in the present form of the invention, the slots 14 and 15 providefor such accommodation.

As will be noted from the dotted line in Fig. 1 and the full lines inFig. 2, the elon- 100 gated spring 18 extends from the remote end of onehandle member 2a to the remote end of theother handle member 24 and saidspring means is arranged to insure seating of said handle members ineither one of the sockets arranged to accommodate that particular handlemember. v

Roller 20 may be provided to facilitate spring movement and therebyreduce friction and wear on the spring 18. The roller 20 may be omitted.

The rounded portion 120 of the end of the shaft 11() in the modificationshown in Fig. 4, accomplishes the same purpose. The support 119 in Fig.4: not only accomplishes the purpose of the support 19 of Fig. 2, butalso the pur ose of the retaining element 17 shown in ig. 2. Y f

To revent accidental displacement from the co lapsed position by eitheror both of the handle members, the shaft 10 may be provided with a pairof spring clip members 30 which have the neck portions 31 and theoutwardly turned mouth forming portions 32. pair of said clips form aclamp that yieldingly receives and retains the handle member24 and holdsit adjacent the shaft 16. The clip members 30 are secured to the shaftby a rivet 33.

It will be noted that the clamp structure shown in Fig. 3 is notessential, but may be dispensed with whenever desired and whenever thehead structure includes a deep side socket of the type specificallyshown in Figs. 2 and 4. Whenever, however, the handle structure does notinclude a side socket, then the retaining means shown in Fig. 3 isemployed. When the retaining means shown in Fig. 3 is employed with thedeep side sockets, then said retaining means must permit the tubularhandle members to slide longitudinally with reference thereto for theseated end of the handle member to clear the mouth of the side socket.

The invention claimed is 1. A collapsible handle structure, including apair of handle members, a shaft, and a head structure rigid with theshaft and including a pair of sockets arranged side by side and betweenwhich is secured said shaft, and a pair of substantially aligned socketsarranged substantially transverse to the shaft, each y member beinginterchangeably receivable by an aligned socket and the adjacent sidesocket for handle extension and collapse, respectively.

2. A collapsible handle structure, including a pair of handle members, ashaft, ahead structure rigid with the shaft and including a pair ofsockets arranged side by side and between Which is secured said shaft, apair of substantially aligned sockets arranged substantially transverseto the shaft, each member being interchangeably receivable by an alignedsocket and the adjacent side socket for handle extension and collapse,respect-ively, and handle retaining yielding means carried by said shaftfor normally retaining the members in collapsed position, butYpermitting forcible release therefrom.

3. A collapsible handle structure, including a pair of handle members, ashaft, and a head structure rigid With the shaft and including a pair ofsockets arranged side by side and between which is secured said shaft, apair of substantially aligned sockets arranged.y substantiallytransverse to the shaft, each member being interchangeably receivable byan aligned socket and the adjacent side socket for handle extension andcollapse, respectively, and means normally constrain ing said memberstoward socket seating.

4. A collapsible handle structure, including a pair of handle members, ashaft, a head structure rigid with the shaft and including a pair ofsockets arranged side by side and between which is secured said shaft, apair of substantially aligned sockets arranged substantially transverseto the shaft, each member being interchangeably receivable by an alignedsocket and the adjacent side socket for handle extension and collapse,respectively, each'handle member being tubular and the aligned socketscommunicating with each other, and extensible means positioned in thesockets normally constraining said members towardr socket seating andextending from handle member to member and connected thereto, said meansbeing enclosed within said members.y

5k. Acollapsible handle structure, including a pair of handle members, ashaft, a head structure rigid with the shaft and including a pair ofsockets arranged side by side and between which is secured said shaft, apair of substantially aligned sockets arranged substantially transverseto the shaft, each member being interchangeably receivable by an alignedsocket and the adjacent side socket for handle extension and collapse,respective ly, the aligned sockets communicating with each other, andextensible means positioned in the sockets normally constraining saidmembers toward socket seating and extending from handle member to memberand connected thereto. y

6. A head structure for a collapsible handle including a pair ofsubstantially aligned sockets, and a pair of 'side-by-side positionedsocketsin spaced relation, each side socket and adjacent aligned socketincluding a lateral slot, said slots being connected, the intermediatespaced portion of the head being arranged for head anchorage.

7. A head structure for ay collapsible handle, including a pair ofsubstantially aligned sockets, and a pair of side-by-side positionedsockets in spaced relation, each side socket and adjacent aligned socketincluding a lateral slot, said slots being connected, the intermediatespaced portion of the head being arranged for head anchorage, each sidesocket and each adjacent aligned socket communicating with each other,and means adjacent the junction between said non-aligned sockets and atthe end of the side socket for stopping handle seating movement therein.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

FREDRICK W. COFFING.

